Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Remembering Erico Boyles Aumentado

Today, we mark the first death
anniversary of Erico Boyles Aumentado (May 18, 1940 - December 25, 2012) who succumbed
to cardiac arrest at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City at 8:37 p.m.
exactly a year ago

ILLUSTRIOUS SON OF BOHOL

The late Atty. Erico Aumentado considered
as one of the most illustrious sons that Bohol has produced and who rose from
the ranks was a journalist, a lawyer, senior provincial board member,
provincial vice-governor, congressman and deputy speaker of the Philippine
House of Representatives

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

He finished his elementary education at
Ubay Central Elementary School and finished his high school at Holy Child
Academy, Ubay, Bohol as valedictorian.

He graduated Bachelor of Laws at the
University of Bohol in 1963.

MORE THAN 40 YEARS AS PUBLIC SERVANT

He became representative of the 2nd
district of Bohol in 1992-2001, Vice Governor of Bohol in 1988-1992 and
Provincial Board Member in 1967-1980; 1984-1986.

He was the governor of Bohol for three
consecutive terms (2001-2010), chairman of both the Regional Development
Council and the Regional Tourism Council of Central Visayas, and National
President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of
Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of the
1.5M local officials of the Philippines, the 1st Boholano ever elected to the position.

HOUSE COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTE

The House held a necrological service
for Aumentado to pay tribute to the lawmaker, a member of the House minority
who chaired the committee on ethics and privileges.

Aumentado rejoined the House in 2010,
after completing three terms as Bohol governor—from 2001 to 2010.

He was also the province’s House
representative from 1992 to 2001.

He was expected to run for another term
as congressman in the 2013 elections, under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Aumentado used to head the League of
Provinces of the Philippines and the Union of Local Authorities of the
Philippines.

A wake was also being held for Aumentado
at the La Funeraria Paz in Quezon City before he will be flown back to Bohol
where he will be buried.

In the House, he was a coauthor of the
sin tax bill, which would impose higher taxes on cigarettes and alcohol
products. The measure has since been signed into law by the President.

He was also one of the main authors of
the bill to strengthen the National Electrification Administration to help
boost its program to bring power to rural areas.

He also pushed a measure to declare the
Chocolate Hills, a famous Bohol tourist spot, as national patrimony, national
heritage park and geological monuments, and to penalize their pillage,
destruction and defacement.

Another bill he championed was one
seeking to strengthen the agricultural education and training in the
Philippines by institutionalizing the Philippine Manpower Development Plan for
Agriculture Entrepreneurship.

All in all, he sponsored or authored 96
measures and coauthored another 274.

Aumentado, who also headed the special
panel tasked to draft the House rules on the release of its members’ statements
of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), was hailed by Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte as an “exemplary public servant” and credited him for turning Bohol
into “one of the most progressive, peaceful and richest provinces today.”

Belmonte said Aumentado remained
faithful to his oath and always hewed to the highest standards of public
office.

“He was truly an outstanding
solon—learned, dedicated and principled,” he said in a statement.

“Eric’s integrity and honor have never
been in doubt. He died a poor man because he never made politics the source of
his livelihood,”

Belmonte added, describing Aumentado as a dear friend and a
colleague he held in high esteem.

Another colleague, Eastern Samar Rep.
Ben Evardone, said Aumentado’s death was a “great loss not only to Bohol but to
our country.”

Evardone described Aumentado as “very
passionate about democracy, rule of law and protection of the interests of the
less fortunate sector.”

“He was a dedicated and very sincere
public servant,” Evardone said.

LEGACY IN GOVERNANCE & EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVICE

In fact, one of his most effective and
most memorable campaign slogans was “, Basta Aumentado, Kalsada Siguradong
Sementado”

He would always be remembered by
Boholanos as the lawmaker who pushed for and initiated successfully the Bohol
circumferential roadwhich
boosted the tourism in the province

He also served as the chairman of the
Regional Development Council and Regional Tourism Council of Central Visayas.

He was also a provincial board member
and governor of Bohol and chairman of the influential 52-member bloc of Visayas
congressmen.

Lending her star
presence as Sikatuna's wife was the lovely Elizabeth Oropesa

THE YOUNGEST SON CONTINUES THE LEGACY

Father & Son

The youngest of the nine Aumentado children, Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado (born December 29, 1977), also known in Bohol as Aris, is expected to continue the legacy left by his father.

A member of the Nacionalista Party, he has been elected as a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Second District of Bohol. He replaced his father Erico Aumentado.

Aumentado wanted to run as board member in 2010 elections but his father didn't allow any of his children to enter politics.

He served as chief of staff of his father until he was designated by the House of Representatives as the caretaker congressman of Bohol’s second district to serve the remaining seven months left of his father’s term in December 2012.

Aumentado is married to Maria Vanessa Cadorna, a former Miss Bohol Sandugo. They have two sons: Erico Vann Lawrence and Erico Vann Lance.

PRIDE OF UBAY, BOHOL

Ubaynons were shocked and saddened when
they learned of the death of the congressman, who was a resident of barangay
(village) Fatima in the town.

The late Atty. Erico Aumentado’s three
sons, five daughters, 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren some of whom are based abroad and have come home have all gathered in the family home for the holidaysThey will join Mrs. Peregrina “Greenie” Adlaon
Cabagnot-Aumentado and the rest of Bohol in commemorating his first death
anniversary.

Nong Erico's 70th Birthday, May 18, 2010

Aumentado Family Picture, Year 2006

According to his daughter Charina Aumentado- Jones, a Las Vegas, Nevada based nurse, a simple luncheon and a memorial mass
are all scheduled today in remembrance of a great Boholano leader

As we all celebrate Christmas, let us set aside a moment of silence for Nong Erico, exemplary public leader, a loving husband, a disciplinarian father, a doting grandfather and a pride of Bohol